PROGRAMS

Pop-Up Performance Project

The Pop-up Performance Project (PPP) was conceived by Artistic Director Jess Curtis as an opportunity for emerging artists to bring experimental material into public view for accidental audiences on San Francisco streets, plazas and parks. Gravity pays a modest stipend to up to 5 artists a year to present these events, encouraging artists to adapt pre-existing work to non-traditional performance sites. As of 2021, Gabriele Christian, Board President and Gravity-affiliated artist, has curated and produced these performances as platforms for Black artists in the Bay Area.

To date, Gravity has presented artists in projects throughout San Francisco, including:

  • Styles Alexander & Jose E. Abad - RE:Naissance at the Palace of Fine Arts, curated by Gabriel Christian

  • Yvonne Onakeme Etaghene - Re:Liberation at Mission Dolores Park, curated by Gabriel Christian

  • Tyler Holmes - RE:Spite at Cupid’s Span, curated by Gabriel Christian

  • C. Chibueze Crouch - Woman Is God To Woman :: a RITUAL mas at Fillmore Center Plaza

  • Randy Reyes with Gabriel Christian - encuentro cuarenta y tres, or orgy for my lungs at Pier 43 Ferry Arch

  • Nicholas Navarro/Pseuda - Love Eternal a durational walking procession beginning at The Stud Bar (event info)

  • Gabriel Christian - Looking? a procession through The Castro

  • Rachael Dichter - Watch Me Watch You Watch Him throughout Market Street

  • Maria Francesca Scaroni, Tove Sahlin, and Empress Jupiter - *** and Oracles at UN Plaza

  • The Empress Jupiter and Jess Curtis - Prototype This presented by CounterPulse at Market Street Prototyping Festival

  • Mica Sigourney - Excerpt with Maryam Rostami

  • Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Minoosh Zamora - Side by Side at Union Square

  • Jack Davis - Faggots in the Labyrinth at The Labyrinth at Land’s End

  • Claire Cunningham and Jess Curtis - excerpt from The Way You Look (at me) Tonight at The 16th & Mission BART Plaza

  • Ue Chua - Serendipity at Ferry Building Plaza as part of Bay Area Dance Week

If you would like to be considered for a PPP, please contact Gravity.

Fiscal Sponsorship

Gravity’s fiscal sponsorship program serves a limited number of emerging Bay Area artists with an attentive, personal level of fiscal services.  Sponsees receive the ability to receive institutional and  tax-deductible donations under the umbrella of Gravity’s 501c3 non-profit status, financial oversight, and related accounting services. Sponsees are selected with regard to their alignment with Gravity’s mission, community, and aesthetic priorities.

Current fiscally sponsored projects include Abby Crain Projects, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, jose e abad, Europa Grace, Silk Worm, Gabriel Christian and Rachael Dichter.

WE do not currently have the capacity to take on more fiscal sponsees, buT please feel free to contact us for information.

Mentorship

In combination with, our fiscal sponsorship program, Gravity offers mentorship support to the artists we serve, providing information and consulting on everything from overall funding strategies to the nit-picky specifics of creating budgets and fill out grant forms.

Beyond these artists, Artistic Director Jess Curtis, provides numerous artists annually with a variety of mentorship services ranging from critical feedback on work to advice about getting their work out into the world particularly drawing from his extensive experience with international touring, teaching and co-production.

Co-Productions

Gravity regularly partners with Bay Area venues such as CounterPulse and the SFMOMA to financially support the presentation of internationally important contemporary artists that we believe it is important for Bay Area audiences to see.

To date Gravity co-presentations have brought such artists as:

  • Dana Michél - Montreal

  • Isabelle Schad - Berlin

  • Shake it Collaborations - Stockholm

  • Miguel Gutierrez - New York

  • Ivo Dimchev - Vienna/Bulgaria

  • Meg Stuart - Brussels/Berlin